We take in the day’s brilliant first light on the N2 highway behind the wheel of a Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium. The normally bustling Overberg town of Caledon hasn’t yet hit the snooze button, it’s that early. Off to the West, two dozen Theewaterskloof wind turbines twirl on the horizon like lazy Ginsu blades. To the East, shards of early morning sun pierce through low-hanging storm clouds. We hang a right in the Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium and accelerate smoothly onto the R320 climbing towards Shaw’s Pass.
Now a smooth, wide Class-3 Tarmac road, many won’t even remember the perilous Class-4 gravel route it used to be just a few years ago … so convincing is the transformation. Not only does Shaw’s Pass offer a shorter, just-as-efficient alternative to the bustling R43 to Hermanus, but it has unlocked massive economic potential for local farmers and tourism. It’s the perfect weekend journey in the Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium. A crossover which, in many ways, takes over the mantle in South Africa of the compact Fiesta. But offers upgraded practicality for discerning modern-day buyers.
FORD PUMA 1.0 TITANIUM
From the well-appointed cabin of the Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium, the R559 900 asking price seems worth every penny in today’s money. Especially as I deftly navigate a series of inviting switchbacks at the crest of Shaw’s Pass and dip down into the Hemel and Aarde Valley we’ve travelled so long to reach. This relatively new road is a piece of civil engineering like no other. Apparently, due to the Overberg’s notoriously high rainfall, construction was delayed some 118 days with only 4.3 km of the total 16 km completed. In the end, construction lasted some 55 months and cost the Cape Overstrand Municipality the princely sum of R240 million.
The road is a worthy match for our Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium (the higher spec is called an ST Line-Vignale). Because already I’ve learned a few crucial things about this inched-up crossover. Its build quality and Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) reduction is second to none in this sector. An 8-inch central touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital driver cluster are pin-sharp and easy to decipher. There is precious little wind bluster or road noise in the cabin on coarse bitumen. And, thanks to selectable drive modes – Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery and Trail are you lot – it is more adaptable and engaging than any car of this ilk.
HEAVENLY HEMEL AND AARDE VALLEY
Part of the reason for our weekend adventure to the Hemel and Aarde Valley in the Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium is to explore the area’s highlights. First port of call is Creation Wines at the foot of the Babylon Toren Mountains. It’s too early for a wine tasting and tapas-style lunch, but they do serve breakfast and can even pair wine with it if you must. Another must-visit in the valley is Ataraxia Wines. Gorgeously positioned high up on the mountainside, there’s a one-of-a-kind chapel-like tasting room that; yes, is available for wedding’s too. And, if your thirst for the fine wines of the region is still not slaked, pull into the family run Newton Johnson estate and Bouchard Finlayson on the Hermanus Side of the R320. The latter is one of the most celebrated boutique wine estates in the country, with its unique terroir that benefits from a cooling ocean breeze, bringing extra zest to the grapes.
SMOOTH OPERATOR
However, as designated driver, of course, I’m solely occupied with the punchy 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine and buttery-smooth seven-speed automatic gearbox. By the time the ribbon-like Shaw’s Pass straightens and flattens near Hermanus, I’ve found a specific rhythm with the car … It’s safe to say we’ve ‘clicked’. The Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium’s motive force is 92 kW and 170 Nm, with an anvil-flat torque peak between 1 400-4 500 r/min. In this sector, its pace, refinement and economy are all you’ll ever need. Claimed/combined consumption is 5.3 l/100 km, however, in the real world you can expect closer to 6.3 l/100 km, which is still a mighty fine figure. It’s zero to 100 km/h sprint comes up in a reliable 9.5 seconds, which comfortably qualifies it as non-ponderous. That fate befalls cars that are 10 seconds and over.
We so enjoyed the drivability of the Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium that we turn around and make another pass of, well, the pass. Although it doesn’t look it, the Puma’s ground clearance is 164 mm and the wheels are pushed far out to the corners, so there are few scenarios that will catch the chassis out. At the top of the pass again, the silence is almost deafening. There’s a 30-hectare reserve on the slopes of Shaw’s Mountain to preserve the area’s endangered fynbos. And the widened road has opened up the valley into the most beautiful vista imaginable. It’s the type of view that leaves you wondering: “How have I not seen this so vividly before?” Ultimately, that’s how we view the Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium, too. A crossover with a fresh perspective on life.
THE VERDICT
Don’t forget that Ford Motor Company created a World Rally Championship (WRC) programme around the Puma. Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday vibes. That, all of a sudden, explains why the Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium feels the way it does. Small, nimble, perky and agile. It’s not just another mass-produced commodity car like so many out there. Active safety systems and semi-autonomous driver aids on this (effectively) entry-level Titanium-spec model are the sort usually reserved for top-of-the-range offerings. Automatic lights, wipers, keyless entry, adaptive cruise control, active-lane keeping assistance and active steering. It’s absolutely brilliant for the money.
THE FIGURES
- Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium
- Engine: 1.0-litre turbo petrol
- Transmission: 7-spd dual-clutch auto
- Power: 92 kW
- Torque: 170 Nm
- 0-100 km/h: 9.5 seconds
- Top speed: 200 km/h
- Tyres: Goodyear 215/55 R17
- Consumption: 6.3 l/100 km (tested) / 5.3 l/100 km (claimed/combined)
- Price: R559 900
